Hamilton keeping Brad Pitt on track as Silverstone turns into film set
Silverstone will have a sprinkling of Hollywood stardust this weekend, with actor Brad Pitt racing at the Northamptonshire circuit during the British Grand Prix.
As if Formula One wasn’t glamorous enough, Silverstone will have a sprinkling of A-list Hollywood stardust this weekend as the Northamptonshire circuit doubles up as a film set while also hosting the British Grand Prix.
The film, which has the working title Apex, stars Brad Pitt and is directed by Joseph Kosinski. Its makers have been granted special access to the Silverstone paddock and pits where they have even set up a garage for their fictional APXGP team. Their race car, a modified Formula Two machine, will also run a few laps to gather on-track footage.
In much the same way as the 1966 classic Grand Prix, the new film will mix real-life racing footage and cameo appearances by present drivers with fictional scenes involving actors.
Pitt plays the part of an ageing driver who is desperate to recapture former glories. In that regard it would be cruel to suggest that Lewis Hamilton is the perfect man to serve as an adviser and production partner, not least because the seven-times former world champion, who has not won a race since December 2021, is so keen to be involved.
Hamilton, 38, has already done a lot of background work on the film and was clearly happy to see that things are now moving at ground level.
“It was really exciting to see Jerry [Bruckheiner, the film’s producer] walking in,” Hamilton said. “I haven’t been to see the garage yet, but I was here a few weeks ago watching Brad practise. It is massively exciting to see it all come together and finally start filming this weekend.
“There are nerves, naturally, because it’s something we’ve been working on for so long. We want everyone to love it and really feel that we encapsulate what the essence of the sport is all about. That’s our goal and we hope we can do it proud.”
At 59, Pitt is perhaps a little old to be making his Grand Prix debut - the oldest driver to compete in F1 was Louis Chiron at the 1955 Monaco race - but Hamilton said he had been impressed by the actor’s fitness levels and racing instincts.
“Brad looks like he’s ageing backwards,” Hamilton said. “Of course that was a big topic at the beginning when we were discussing the first story. But he’s super-fit and he’s been training hard.”
While racing traditionalists may feel uneasy about the film crew’s presence at an actual race, Hamilton insisted that the end result would give the sport a huge boost.
“I don’t know if this would have been possible ten years ago when the old management was in place. They wouldn’t have perhaps seen this as an important step in terms of the sport’s growth. But we’ve already seen the great work and impact of the Netflix show [Drive to Survive] and I think this will take it to new heights beyond that.”
Hamilton also reiterated his support for the cause espoused by Just Stop Oil activists, but said he hoped there would be no repeat of the incident at last year’s British Grand Prix when a number of them broke through security and sat down on the track.
“From my perspective and my team’s, we are very focused on sustainability,” he said. “We believe in what people are fighting for and we are making changes as a sport. But safety is key.
“We don’t want to be put in harm’s way and we don’t want anyone else to be in harm’s way. If there was to be [a protest] we hope that it is not on the track.”
The Times
